The United Nations has issued an urgent warning that thousands of earthquake survivors in eastern Afghanistan are at risk of not surviving the harsh winter unless immediate international assistance is provided. The UN has appealed for $139 million to secure emergency shelter, food, clean water, and healthcare for those affected.
According to the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the devastating earthquake has left tens of thousands of families in dire conditions, with many living in makeshift shelters or out in the open as temperatures continue to drop.
UN Special Representative Roza Otunbayeva urged the global community to act without delay, stressing that time is running out. “The situation is critical. Without urgent support, many families will not make it through the winter,” she said. Otunbayeva also underlined the crucial role of women in delivering humanitarian assistance. She noted that Taliban restrictions on female aid workers have created significant obstacles for relief operations, making it harder to reach vulnerable women and children who are often the most affected.
The 6.0-magnitude quake, which struck Nangarhar, Kunar, and Laghman provinces, has killed hundreds, injured thousands, and displaced entire communities. Local officials report that many villages have been flattened, leaving families without shelter, food stocks, or access to medical services.
The UNDP has highlighted the need for “community-based recovery” as part of the response plan. This includes cash-for-work programs that allow survivors to earn an income while contributing to debris clearance, housing reconstruction, and the restoration of critical infrastructure such as schools, health centers, and roads.
Humanitarian agencies warn that earthquakes disproportionately affect the poorest households—those already living in fragile mud-brick homes, with little to no savings to rebuild their lives. “Relief alone is not enough,” the UN stressed. “Long-term resilience requires sustained investment in jobs, education, healthcare, and disaster preparedness.”
Another major concern is the overlapping humanitarian crises facing Afghanistan. In addition to the earthquake survivors, many recent returnees from Pakistan and Iran are now among the displaced, further straining already limited resources. Aid groups emphasize that special attention must be given to women-headed households, children, the elderly, and returnee families, who are at heightened risk of hunger, disease, and exposure to the cold.
The UN has warned that the situation is a race against time. With Afghanistan already grappling with widespread poverty, food insecurity, and restrictions on humanitarian access, the earthquake has compounded existing vulnerabilities. Unless the international community steps up with funding and logistical support, thousands could face a deadly winter in one of the world’s most fragile humanitarian contexts.
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